Olango, our best day trip ever!

[Tonji Ramos]

We went to Olango for a great day of bird photography.

Thanks to Raul Puentespina for taking us around Olango and treating us like VIPs. He picked us up from the airport, took us around Olango and dropped us back to the airport after hanging out with us and having a nice early dinner of pizza. What a great guy! I hope he gives us a chance to return the favor. Thanks also to Nilo for giving us a detailed email of what to expect.

The conditions were ideal for bird photography. The sky was super blue and there were enough clouds to filter the harsh sun. We arrived at lowtide and the blue sky reflected perfectly on the water.

I did the super low angle shots, with my tripod legs spread out flat. I was on my hands and knees a lot to get the lowest possible angles. Some cuts on my knees, but we have to suffer a bit for a better shot.

I had at least 6 lifers.

Olango has a lot of birds. But more than that it is a beautiful place with clean air and clean water. Perfect for bird watching and the perfect backdrop for bird photography. Our friends from Cebu are lucky to have this place so close to them. We only had a few hours in Olango and we were already able to take so many species. I do hope to come back soon to see the birds we missed and improve on these pictures.

Here are a few birds taken at low angles with the nice soft blue sky reflecting on the shallow water.


Bar-tailed Godwit
Limosa limosa

Canon 5D mk2, 500mm, 1.4xtc, 1/800, f9, ISO 400, Feisol tripod, Gimbal


Terek Sandpiper
Xenus cinereus

Canon 5D mk2, 500mm, 1.4xtc, 1/800, f9, ISO 400, Feisol tripod, Gimbal


Greater Sand-Plover
Charadrius veredus

Canon 5D mk2, 500mm, 1.4xtc, 1/640, f8, ISO 400, Feisol tripod, Gimbal

And one BIF of two kinds of Curlews, the Eurasian is in front.

Far-Eastern and Eurasian Curlew

Canon 5D mk2, 500mm, 1.4xtc, 1/1250, f10, ISO 400, Feisol tripod, Gimbal

[ppaaoolloo]

Tonjie I must commend your low angle. Your curlews are fantastic.

[Edu Lorenzo Jr]

And how can these be improved? These are incredible shots Tonji!!!! and Congratulations on the lifers!

[Evanjohnn Mendoza]

Truly amazing shots! I so want to go back to Olango T__T

[Mark Itol]

What a harvest. Excellent low-angle shots, Tonji! Congratulations!

[Clemn A. Macasiano Jr.]

Superb shots ...I had lunch with Raul today. He mentioned you guys enjoyed the Olango Birding. Post some more ...

[tina mallari]

Ohhhh my gulay !!!! These are all jaw dropping captures. Sisi to the maximus ako Waaaaaaaa why why why

Congratulations Tonji !!!! Can't wait to see Sylvia's captures

[Lydia Robledo]

Feb 18, 2010 16:59:19 GMT tina mallari said:

Ohhhh my gulay !!!! These are all jaw dropping captures. Sisi to the maximus ako Waaaaaaaa why why why

Congratulations Tonji !!!! Can't wait to see Sylvia's captures

Overwhelming captures, Tonj. Makes me a proud member of WBNPPI. He, he... I can see Tina naglulupasay... ha, ha. You have spent time with the best Cebuano after Lapu-lapu. (Am I doing justice to Raul?) Make sure he brings you to his farm in your next visit. He will treat you to the sweetest corn, freshly harvested and cooked by the roadside. You see, in this forum, there's a lot more than birds... the fellowship is soooo super. telyds

[Ely Teehankee]

Those are great shots from a guy who works hard to get good pictures. Your quest for perfection brings out the best of you. Well done Tonji. Mabuhay.

[Romy Ocon]

Love the low angle of the waders, and great job in catching the Curlews in flight..... big congrats, Tonji!

[Dennis Alfaro]

Great harvest you have here Tonji. I love the low angle shots

[Farmer Nestor]

Beautiful low angle shots Tonji

[Tonji Ramos]

Thanks guys glad you like them. Those low shots were fun. We don't get to do it too often in our regular wader areas. Its hard to do that it Candaba as the birds are already lower than the road level. Coastal is just too dirty. Still a mat would have been nice to save my knees, maybe a small yoga mat.


Tina- we can still go back
Clem and Te Lyds- Raul was really super. What a great forum to have such helpful members. We could have taken the wrong bangka or worse, instead we got to the site on time for the low tide and the good light. Yay. Raul really took good care of us. He picked us up from the airport at 5:30 am, what a guy!

[Lydia Robledo]

Hey Tonj, We oftentimes throw away stuff that were used as anti-shock pads for fragile equipments. Those make great knee pads (soft styros usually dark gray in color). I use them for gardening. telyds

[mantarey]

Awesome back with a vengeance harvest Tonji. The Bar-tailed Godwit is my instant fave among the bunch. More, more....

[Toto Gamboa]

Wooow. Great shot Tonji! perfect shots!

[Nilo Arribas Jr.]

Wow, congratulations Tonji for the wonderful harvest.

[JP Cariño]

love all the photos Tonj. two thumbs up

[William Lim]

Beautiful set, Tonji. What a great birding day.

[Luis (Chito) Limchiu]

Great Captures!! Super clean shots of the whembrils